Even though most fireworks shows are canceled this year, there is still plenty to do on the Outer Banks this 4th of July. Start a new Independence Day tradition with an OBX adventure! These activities are sure to be a hit with you and your family.
- Hang Gliding Lessons
- Dolphin Watch Cruise
- Kayak Tours
- Vineyard Voyage
- Kiteboarding
1. Hang Gliding Lessons
As the largest hang gliding school in the world, Kitty Hawk Kites is proud to teach you how to fly in a fun and safe environment. Choose from a beginner dune lesson at Jockey’s Ridge State Park or get some air in a tandem hang gliding flight at the Cotton Gin.
At the dunes, Kitty Hawk Kites’ certified instructors give you all the tools to take flight and fly the hang glider yourself. Your lesson includes 5 flights down the dunes with an instructor running beside you as you fly around 15 feet above the ground. In your tandem flight, you and an instructor are towed up to 2000 feet or higher by an ultralight plane and glide down over the course of 15 to 30 minutes. These altitudes 360-degree views of the beautiful Outer Banks from above.
Can’t decide between the two of them? Book a Taste of Flight package to experience the best of both worlds.
Just take it from a recent student,
“We had a great time during our first hang gliding lessons. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School is absolutely the best. Each and every one of theirs staff welcoming and professional, and the instructors are enthusiastic and are genuinely happy to ensure that each and every customer is having the time of their lives while focusing on safety. If you go, try to get Nic as your instructor. I can’t say enough good things about him and the rest of the staff!” -Matt Parker
2. Dolphin Watch Cruise
Discover the amazing marine life of the Outer Banks aboard the Safari or the Miss Bodie Island on a Dolphin Watch Tour. Each tour is lead by a biologist from the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research. The Outer Banks is an ideal place to take a dolphin boat trip to learn more about these miraculous creatures. A great trip for families and people of all ages!
Some of the hundreds of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the area show up so frequently they’ve even been given names, like “Rake,” “Scarlet,” and “Onion.” Onion was first identified in Beaufort, North Carolina almost 20 years ago, and he has been sighted there almost every winter since. Apparently, Nags Head is his summer home, along with an extensive family of more than 100 members. When he was young, Onion had an unfortunate encounter with a boat propeller and his damaged fin has made him one of the most easily recognized dolphins around.
Nags Head Dolphin Watch currently offers two departing locations for your convenience. The Safari departs from the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center in South Nags Head. The Miss Bodie Island docks at Shallowback Bay Club in Manteo.
3. Kayak Tours
Explore the great outdoors and all the natural wonders that the Outer Banks has to offer. Even better, do it from a front-row seat in a kayak. Guided kayak eco-tours are offered from Corolla to Hatteras for a full Outer Banks experience.
With trips through Alligator River, Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest, the Corolla Salt Marshes, and more there’s no wonder why the Outer Banks has become a popular destination for kayaking! You can even book sunset kayak tours for a spectacular view of the sunset right from the sound.
4. Vineyard Voyage
Experience the fruits of the land on this one-of-a-kind cruise across the Currituck Sound from Duck to Sanctuary Vineyards on a Vineyard Voyage Tour. Once you arrive at the vineyard, you’ll get a behind the scenes tour of the winery and receive a private wine tasting. Learn the vine-to-glass process, smell the French oak barrels and meet the master winemakers behind this intriguing process.
Sanctuary Vineyards produces over 7,000 cases of wine seasonally and has won over 100 accolades for their award-winning wines. Make reservations early, this tour sells out frequently!
5. Kiteboarding
Harness the wind and learn a new skill on a kiteboarding lesson. The Outer Banks is known as the kiteboarding mecca of the East Coast. And for good reason. Smooth, consistent winds and shallow sound water make for ideal conditions for learning how to kiteboard.
Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding School in Rodanthe, NC is proud to have PASA certified instructors to provide a safe and fun environment to learn.
No matter what you choose to do this 4th of July weekend, stay safe and healthy. And share the fun with us on Facebook and Instagram
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